l sail had stood in shore, to intercept the
piratical vessel, which it was naturally supposed would make for the
harbour, and it was important therefore to prevent her doing this. It
was only, indeed, when the wind blew right in, that a vessel could enter
under sail. On other occasions, it was necessary to warp or tow her
in--an operation which could not be performed under the fire of an
enemy. The pirate, finding that he could not get into the harbour
unmolested, hauled up his courses, and boldly stood back towards the
British ship, receiving her fire and returning it with interest.

Elizabeth gazed with lips apart and pale cheeks at the combatants, which
now, surrounded by clouds of smoke, were rapidly exchanging broadsides.

"Oh, how dreadful!" she exclaimed. "It seems as if they must destroy
each other. How many souls will thus be launched into eternity! How
fearful, too, if the pirate gains the victory! for I have heard tales of
the horrible way they treat those they conquer, when their blood is up
in such a fight as this."

"Little fear of that," remarked Deane. "Our brave countrymen are not
likely to give in to a set of mongrel outlaws as are these buccaneers.
But mongrels as they are, they fight well, I acknowledge that! See,
there goes the mast of one of the ships!"

"I can scarcely distinguish one from the other through the smoke," said
Elizabeth.

"It's the frigate's fore-mast, I fear," exclaimed Deane. "She is
attempting to board the pirate. But no! she has not succeeded, the
other sheers off, and continues firing at a distance."

As he spoke, the two vessels, which had for some short time been so
close together as scarcely to be distinguished in the midst of the
smoke, now separated, the pirate steering towards the land, while the
frigate lay, with her fore-mast gone, and several spars shot away from
the main-mast, while the rigging of the pirate seemed but little
injured.

"How fearful!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "The pirates seem to have gained
the victory."

"Not at all," answered Deane; "see, the red flag of England still flies
triumphant, and probably, if we could see the decks of the two vessels,
we should find that the pirate has been the greater sufferer. His
object was to cripple his antagonist, and he has done so successfully,
while the wish of the English captain has been to destroy the pirates."

Although the pirate was so standing that only her after-guns could be
brought to b